Automatic clamping device



2, 1945 T. J. c. CHAPMAN 2,366,666

AUTOMATIC CLAMPING- DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1945. T. J. c. CHAPMAN 2,365,666

AUTOMATIC CLAMPIkiG DEVICE Filed an, 7, 1942 4 Sheets-Shea} 2 Jan. 2, 1945.

T. J.'C. CHAPMAN 2,366,666

AUTOMATIC CLAMPING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 7, 1942 mum 'Jan- 1945- T. J. c. CHAPMAN AUTOMATIC CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1942 4.Sheets- -Sheet 4 [Jar/10111662407110 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 AUTOMATIC CLAMPING DEV ICE Thomas J. Chapman, Chicago; 111., assignor to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, Ill., 2.

. corporation of Delaware e Application January 7,1942,SerialNo.425,9ll9

16 Claims. .(Cl. 17.1

This invention relates to a. clamping device and more particularly to a device enabling are ticles to be more easily handled and heldin position while being worked upon. I

The invention has particular utility in the handling and skinning of hams and will be specifically described with reference thereto. The

; most commonly employed device for skinning hams requires the operations of picking up a ham with both hands, raising it approximately eight inches and placing it in a saddle, in which position it remains While the operator removes the skin. It is then necessary for the operator to grasp the ham with both hands and place it aside.

With the-device of the present invention the operator may slide theham with one hand from a table or conveyorinto position upon a skinning block. The skinning block is then raised by power under control of the operator into skinning position and at the same time the ham is clamped in positionin order to enable the operator to remove the skin. The skinning block may then be lowered to its original position, unclamping the ham and enabling the operatorto push the ham onto a table or conveyor with one hand. Power operationlof the skinning block maybe controlled by the foot of the operator or more desirably by some necessary movement of the .operatorsuch as placing a knife upon a support therefor and removing the knife from the support, so that he has both hands free for handling and skinning the ham. 1

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved handling andholding device for positioning and holding articles while the same are being worked upon. 7 6

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping device forhams or the like during a skinning operation which relieves the operator of manually raising the hams into skinning position. I A further object of the invention is to. provide an improved clamping and handling device for articles to be worked upon in which the article is raised to workingposition and clamped in such positionby power under control of the operator.

A still further object of the invention i to provide a holding and clamping device for skinning or performing any other operation upon hams or the like in which the article is automatically raised to and clamped in working position when the operator removes a knife from a support therefor and lowered and released when the operator replaces the knife upon said support. Other objects and advantages of the invention lowing drawings of which will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the fol- Fig. 1is a plan view of a device in accordance with the present invention with certain parts omitted; Fig. 2 i Fig.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line a front elevation of the device of tion taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical enlarged section through a control valve taken on the line 55 of Fig.3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified device in accordance with the present invention with certain parts omitted;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the device of Fig. 6; Fig. '8 is avertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the knife box shown in Fig. 8 with the knife in position therein.

Referring to the drawings, the device of Figs. 1 to 5 includes a table l0 supported at one end by standards I l and at the other end by any suitable support such as the side rai1 l2.of a conveyor having a conveying member l3 which may move in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. The table I 0 may include a ham receiving portion I4 of any suitable material, for example wood. The table I0 may also be provided with a skinning block I6 shown in its upper position inFigs. 2 and 3. In its'lower position (not shown) the skinning block [6 preferably has itsllppfi f surface flush with the upper surface of the ham receiving portion M of the table H). The portion also preferably has itsupper surface flush with the upper surface of conveying member l3 so that "the ham or other article to be worked upon may be easily slid from the conveyor over the portion l4 onto the skinning block l6 The structure of the skinning block I6 is most clearly shown in Fig. 4'and may'include an upper member I! which maybe of wood onany other suitable material, andal'ower member. 18 which also may be made of wood or' any other suitable material. The members I! and I8 may be secured together by a plurality of fastening elements such as screws 19. two of which are shown in Fig. 4, and are supported upon vertical reciprocable rods 2|, one of which is shown in Fig. 4. The rods 2| may be provided with shoulders 22 adjacent theirupper ends bearing against the member l8 and projetingthroug'h apertures 23 in the member l8 so as to receive nuts H for clamping the rods to the member [8. With this construction the upper surface of the skinning block is free from apertures or fastening elements.

In order to prevent foreign material or the hands of the operator from entering the space beneath the skinning block IE or being caught by the skinning :block' when it .is' lowered, the skinning block may be provided with a skirt 26 extending around a major portion thereof. This skirt may be of sheet metal and be secured to the skinning block by having aninwardlybent flange 2'1 around its upper periphery extending between the member I! and 1-8 so as to be clamped thereby.

The supporting rods 2| may be guided and supported in bearings 28 secured to accrossmemr ber 29 carried by U-shaped subframe members 3| secured to cross members 32 forming parto'f the table 10. The-lower ends .ofthe rods 21 may be suitably secured in a yoke member 33 attached at its central portion to one end-,of a connecting rod 3.4. The other end of the connecting rod 34 maybe secured to aapiston 36 reciprocable in a cylinder 31. The piston and its associated parts including the skinning block l6 may be raised and lowered by fluid pressure, for example by air, steam,or; liquid suchas wa'ter compressed air being the preferred fluid. The operatingfluid may be introduced into and exhausted from the upper end of thecylindertl through a pipe 38 and in a similar manner introduced into and exhausted from the lower end of the cylinder through apipe 51 having. opposed control. passages, 52 so that fluid maybesimuItaneousIy introduced into one endof thecylinderB'I. and exhausted-from the otheraend. In the position of the valve-shown in Fig.1.5, fluid underpressure is introduced into the upper end of the cylinder 31 through the pipers and exhausted from the lowerend of the cylinder '31 through the pipe 39 andexhaust pipe 48. R0-

tating fthe iplug 51 of. the valve 9m fromthe position shown will reverse the operation to supply fluidundnpressure to the lower ,end of the cylinder 31 through the pipe 39 and exhaust fluid from the upper end of the cylinder through the pipe38;

The plugi5wl of an suitable manner, for. example by a rocking foot pedal 53 journaledat 54 on the cover 56 of the valve 43, and having an integral upstanding member .51 provided with a slot 58 receiving a pin 59 on acrank 6i securedto the shaft 62 of the valve plug 5|. It will be apparent that the member 53 maybe rocked by the foot of the operator from theposition-shown in Fig. 2 to rock the rotor of the valve 43 90*, thus controlling the operation ofthe pisto-n36 and skinning block I B. The upper surface. of the skinning block It may have a shape such; as v that shown in Fig.1 ap proximating the outline of a ham and be provided at its larger end withiastop member 63 to assistin positioning the ham upon the skinningblockand also assistin holding,- it in clamped foreign material or the materialbeing worked the valve may be operated in.

position. The table II) may also be provided with an upstanding stationary member 64 having a hook shape-d end 66 positioned above the smaller -end of the skinning block 16. Whenthe small end of the ham 'is positioned over the narrower end of the skinning block Hi, it will be apparent that raising the skinning block with a ham in position thereon will cause the smallend of the ham to be clamped between the skinning block ['6 and the hook '66 so as to clamp the ham in a fixed position while the operator removes the skin therefrom. The table may also be provided with a waste disposal chute 61 adjacent the skinning block 15 and on the opposite side of the table from the ham' receiving member M. The waste or' skin disposal chute 61 may empty into any suitable container or conveying mechanism (not 7 shown).

The "skinning table may also be provided with a knife box 63, supported upon a member 69 secured to the table II].

In'emp'loying' the *device of Figs. 1 to 5, the operator stands so as to Ice-adjacent the larger end of the skinnin block' 16. With the skinning block in its lower position the opera'tormay select a ham or similar article to be Worked upon from theconveyor 13 and slide the same with one hand from the conveyor across the member..l4 onto the skinningblockj I6 so asto positionthe same on the skinning block'with the larger end of the ham against the stop member 63 and the small end .over the smaller end of the skinning block 1'6. By actuating the valve operating member ES byhis foot, the operator causes the pistonfifito be raised by 'fl'uid pressure, thusraising the. skin ning block [6 through the connectingrod 34,-yoke 33 and rods 21 Ijhis causes the ham toibelraised to skinning position and alsothe clamping of the small .end of. the ham between the skinning block 16,; and thehook :56 of=the hookmember '64. The

ham is thus clamped in. skinning position and the operator mayremove the skin from the ham and dispose ,ofthe same along with any other wastethrough the chutevfi'l. After the skinning operation,..reverse actuation 'of I the valve-operating member 53willcause the skinning block 16 to be lowered, after which-the operator may slide the skinned ham across the member [4 back onto the conveyor *ltyor, if desired, into a suitable container adjacent thetable Ill Th skirt '26 upon the skinning block l6 prevents the hands.

of the operator from being caught beneath the skinning 'block 16 when it is movedfrom its upper to its lower position, and also'prevents upon from being engaged under the skinning block and interfering with the o-perationthereof. v A modified holding or clampingdevice'is shown in Figs'rfi to "9, inclusive, in which thestructure of the skinning blockissimplified, additional hold ing members for the articlesbeing worked upon are provided, and t'heelevatine and lowering motions of the skinning block, .are automatically.

controlled by the removal andreplacement. re: spectivelyoia knife .in a knifeboxr This. device includes atableportion ll. supported at one end also be provided with a. waste disposal chutejli into which skin, fat or other waste material may be discharged. 1 1 H T I A. skinning block I81 may. be positioned between the hamreceiving block I6 and the waste disposal chute. I1 and besupportedupon a platform "I9 secured to the upper end of apiston rod 8| having itslower end received in a fluid pressure cylinder 82. for reciprocation in a vertical direc-. tion. The platform 19 secured to the upper end of the piston rod 8| may be and preferably. is of metal and the skinning block I8 may be detachably secured thereto by any suitable meansinot shown). A metal skirt 83 extends downwards fromthe sides and the large end of .the skinning block I8 so as to have its lower portion below the upper level of the table 'II when the skinnin block is in its upper position. This skirt member is preferably provided with an integrallmetailic top member 84 extending over the platform I9 soas to be secured in position between the skinning block I8 and the platform I9. I As the-platform 19, skinning block 84 and skirt member 83 are supported upon a single piston rod 8|, guide members 86 secured to the table portion II are positioned adjacent theskirt member at the wider end of the skinning block I8 to guide theskinning blockand associated parts and prevent rotation of the same about the axis of the pistonrod 9|.

A hook member 88, preferably of. T cross section, with the wider portion thereof. directed toward the skinning block I8, may be secured to the table II so as to have its hook portion positioned above and overlying the narrow end of the skinning block I8. Upon elevation of the skinningblock I8 the small end of the ham or other article being worked upon is gripped between the small end of the skinning block I8 and the hook portion of the member 88. The skinning block I8 may be provided with a plurality of stop or positioning members 89, 90 and 9|. The positioning members 89 and 90 may be rigidly secured to the skinning block I8, the stop member 89 being secured to the side of the skinningblock adjacent the waste disposal chute 'II near the large end of the skinning block I8, and the stop member 90 being secured intermediate thelarge end of the skinning block I8. The stop members 89 and 90 project a short distance above the upper surface of the skinning block 1 8.

The" stop member 9| is preferably supported so as to be projected above the surface of the skinning block" when the skinning block is in itsuppermost position and lowered so as to have itsupper end flush with or below the uppergurface of the skinning block I8 when the skinning block is in its lower position, the upper surface of the skinning block I8 preferably being flush with the. ham receiving block I9 when the skinning block .is inits lower position. The stop member 9| may extend downwardly through an aperture 92 in the top portion Mflof the and be provided with a skirt member 88 I guiding portion 93 received in apairof guides Msecured to the inner surface of one side of the skirt member 83. The guide member 93 may. have a laterally extending arm member 96 secured thereto for engagement with one end of a 9| toward its lowerposition. The other end of thelever 91 may be pivotally connected at IM to. a link I02 extending vertically downward through an aperture I03 in a laterally. projecting member I04 secured to the cylinder 82. The lower end of the link I02 may be provided with an adjustable abutment I06 shown as a nut, screw threaded upon thelower end of the link I02. In Fig. 8 the nut I06. is in engagement with the laterally projecting member I04 to hold the lever 91 inthe position shown, thus holding the stop member9l in its upper position against the compression of the spring 99. Upon lowering of the skinning block I8 with its associatedskirt member 83 the spring 99 lowers the stop member 9| by rocking the lever 91 in a. counterclockwise direction, and when the stop member 9 I has reached its lowermost position thelink I02 slides downwardly through the aperture I03 in the laterally projecting member I04. Upon again raising the skinning block 18 the nut I06 engages the lat erally projecting .member I04 as the skinning block approaches its upper position, thus rocking the lever 91. to againraise the positioning or stop member 9| to its upper position.

I In the upper position of the skinning block 18 all of the stop or positioning members 89, 90 and 9| project a short distance above the upper surface of the skinning block" to assist in holding .to interfere with the skinning operation. When the skinning block'I8 is in its lower position the stop member 9| is withdrawn and the ham or other article. on the skinning block is released by the clamping member 88 so that itmay be slid to the right in Fig. 6 onto the ham receiving block I6 or the conveyor I4 and another article to be worked upon positioned upon the skinning block by sliding over the ham receiving member onto the skinning block I8 without interference with the stop member 9|.

A knife or water box I0'I may be suitably secured to the table II, for example by standards I08. The knife box M1 is preferably positioned is positioned in the knife box. The lever I I2 may .be pivotally connected. intermediate its ends at II4 to a link [I5 having its other end pivotally 1 connected at 'II6 toa control valve operating bell crank Ill. The link II5 preferably extends downwardly through an aperture H8 in a member I I9 secured to the lower portion of the knife box I01 and the lever II2and link II5 are resiliently urged to their upper position by a compression spring I2I extending between the member H9 and a collar I22 on the link H5.

The bell crank II'I operates a control valve I23 which may be entirely similar to the control valve 43 shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the connections to the valve being madeso that the skinning block I8 is moved to its upper position when the knife I09 is removed from theknife box I0! so that the lever II2 is in its upper position; The skinning block is again moved to its lower position when the knife is replaced in the. knife box so, as to engage the lever II 2; and move it to its lower I structure than that -of .-Figs,.'

'of-the following; claims; w

has its top portionwinelinedidownwardly-Menard the free ,end of: the; levernin Eig. a,8..:so1that;ithe knife tends. to. slide toward-.thefrontror the knife box thusialwaysinsuring operation; fil'ihe levger H2. i t will also belnoted thatthe skmningblock has a s mpler bcQnformat-io 2 and island Simpler to inclusive. F-

- The operation ;Qf; 1;he device or -Figs.;=6,rt 9115 similar to that of the device aof-aFigsal: tpwfigine, elusive. However, the device of. Figs. B ta; -9

' relieyesl the operator ofl' manually. controlling the raising 1 and lowering of the skinning block .as thisqoperation is; controlled bywthe necessar ract of removing and replacing a=knife. -in 'a knife sup,

, port to .free' the hands for handling. i the article being worked; upon; Also additional: stops or positioning members on the-skinninghblockoare provided; at least one ofiwh-ioh-Jis slowered from its operative positionzwhen'the.skinning iblock is invention the ham or other article being worked upon; is more securely held in working -position While the invention has been specifically-described with respect to-skinning hams, it-isapparent that the device of the present invention maybe employed for clamping other meat products; as Well as any other articlewhich it-is desired to hold in position while beingwor-ked' upon, Thusthe shapel ofthe supporting member 16,

While: I have disclosed the preferred embodiment" of -my invention, it is uriderstood that the details thereof may be varied within the scope- I. claim: I

1. A device for positioning and holding artioles being; workedupon, which comprises, averticallymovablesupporting memberhaving-alow erposition,;.and an upperposition, a clamping meniber having a clamping portion/overlyingat-limitedarea; of saidsupporting-imember, said limited areabeing disposed atone end of' said vertically movpit me position-=9 It. will remotes iterate-rant tamer ticle: thereonirom itsaslower position to its: up er position in order to clamp a portiontof': saidliarsl ticle: between said; supporting; member and; said clamping means with the entire remainder oi the articlesupportedcbyi and exposed upon saidesups porting member whereby the principal partyof; its surface is exposed and. held in a positionito. be worked upon, and means under control vof' the operatorifor actuating said poweroperated means;

'3. A'device forpositioning and ,holdingarticles being worked upon, Whichtcomprises, a table. member, a vertically movable supporting mem, her having alower position and an upperzposia tion, the upper surface of said supporting meme. her being. substantially flush-with the upper sur face of said table member-when said supporting member is in its lower position, a clamping-meme berattachedto said table member and extend-w ing upwardlytherefrom with a portionpof: the clampingmember' overlying a. limited areaofsaid: supporting member, saidlimitedarea being dise. posed at one end of said vertically movable sup-, porting member, and means for raisingsaid-supe porting member with an article thereon fromni-ts. lower position to. itsv upper position in order .tQ clampa portion of said article betweensaid..sups porting member and said clampingmemberwith the entire remainder of the articlesupported by and exposed upon saidsupportingmemberwhereby. the principal part of itssurfaoe istexposed and held-in av position toibe worked'upon. l 4; Adevice for positioning-and holding articles being; worked upon, which comprises, a table member, a vertically movalole supporting :l'neml-v as. w'ellas theformlof the clamping membertfi, may be :variedto fit the article-being handled. a L

able; supportingmember; and means for raising the supporting member; with; an article-thereon; from sits low Pos tion to: its. upper position; inorderto clamp alportionzof fieidsarticler'between' said supporting member and :saidkclampingwmemm bfl Withh en i eremai der-pat e articleasupa: ported by; an xposed; llli m said; supporting i mber whereb -tn p neipaljJ-par face is exposed; an, jf nl arosition to be w ked u on- M I A; d v c for po iliqnill 'imd:h J maartiQIes b nawork d-up n, which 6 m esa vertically movable supporting memb a arlowerposi-r tion nd an p e Posit on tajq am inelmemtes n a m in q iiqnnver yine limited r Said e emembery sa iimitedarea be s i e ratone and ablasupporting men b w r ne ted-.:.ineans r a sin sai tsurmriins Wiilr m f: its. sure-t.

her-having a lowerposition and an, upperr posie tion, the upper surface of. saidisupporting memher being substantially flush with the upper; stir:-v faceof; said table member when said,- supporting member is in its; lowerposition, a. clamping-1 member attachedto said table member and-extending; upwardly therefrom with a:portion ofx the clamps ing member overlyingta-limited area of. saidgsupe porting member, said limited .:areabeing disposed at: one end ofsaidgveitically movable supporting member; fluid pressure means for raisingthe sup-; porting member with aniarticle thereon fromaits;

lower-position to its upper position inorder; to;-,

clamp ,a portion-of 'said articlesbetween said-sum; porting member :and said clampingz member; with; the entire remainder ofthe article supportedby and exposed upon said supporting member where,-

by. the principal part of itssurfaceais exposed: and held in a: position; to be worked. upon, 1 and: mansiunder control ofasaid operator for actuate. ing, said). power means .to raise said supporting; member.-

5. A device f'orposit-ioning and holding articles;

being: worked upon, which comprises, a; tablemember, a movable'supporting member having: a: lower position and an upper position, said table, member having an opening for receiving said supporting member in its lower position, the upper surface of said supporting member being substans,

tially fi-ush withstheuppersurface of saidttable member whensaid' supporting member isiin its: lower-position, at clamping-"member secured to. said; tablelmember vand-vhaving a, portionover-e lying,- a limited :a-rea ofasaid supporting: member; means includinga-fluid; pressure cylinder for ing said supporting rmembenwith an article; theme on from'itslower positionatoitsupper position in order to clamp a portionuor; said article; between said s portins-membemand saidyclampingi-meme,

' ber, .saidsupportingmember-having :a, downs...

-- wardlyiqextendingf skirtzaroundzatcleastzaimaion portion of its periphery to close saidopening when said supporting tion. a l

6. A device for ,positioningand holding hams member is in its upper posiduring skinning of said hams, which comprises, a table member, a vertically movable supporting member havin an outline generally conforming to the outline of a ham and having a small end and a large end, a clamping member having a hook portion supported above the small end of said supporting member, and means ,for raising said supporting member with a ham thereon from its lower position to its upper position in order supporting member and said clamping member. 7. A, device for positioning and holding hams during a skinning operation thereon, which comprises, a table member having an opening therein and provided with a ham receivingportion, a clamping member fixedly supported above the table in spaced relation thereto, a movable supporting member having a lower position andan upperposition, said supporting member having an outline generally conforming to the outline of; a ham and having a small end and a large end, said supporting member being received within andsubstantially conforming to the shape of said opening and having its upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of said ham receiving, portion when said supporting member is in its lower position, a fluid pressure cylinder provided with a piston positioned below said supporting member, said supporting member being connected to said piston, and means under control of the operator for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder for raising said supportsaid clamping means, a support for a tool emto clamp the small end of said ham between said ployed upon said article and means for actuating said power operated means for raisin said supporting member upon removal of said tool from said support and lowering said supporting member upon replacing said tool upon said support.

9. A device for positioning and holding articles being worked upon, which comprises, a movable supportingmember having a lower position and an upper position, a clamping member having a portion rigidly supportedabove said supporting member, means for raising the supporting member with an article thereon from its lower posi- 1 tion to its upper position in order to clamp said,

10. A device for positioning and holding hams during skinning of said hams, which comprises, a

mg member to its upper position in order to clamp the smaller end of said ham between said supporting member and said clamping member.

, 8. A, device for positioning and holding articles being worked upon, which comprises, a vertically movable supporting member having a lower position ,and an upper position, a clamping member table member, a vertically movable supporting member having an outline generally conforming to the outline of a ham and having a small end and a large end, aclamping member having a hook portion supported above the small ,end of said supportingmember, means for raising said supporting member with a ham) thereonfrom its lower position to its upperposition in order to clamp the small end of said ham between said supporting member and said clamping member, a

plurality of ham positioning members, adjacent the periphery of said supporting member, said positioning members extending above thexupper surface of said supporting member, means for lowering said supporting member to release said v ham from said clamping member and means for havinga clamping portion overlying a limited area of said supporting, member, power operated means for raising said supporting member with an article thereon from itslower position to its upper position in order to clamp a portion of lowering at least one of saidpositioning members below the upper surface of said supporting member when said supporting member is lowered. a

THOMAS J. C. CHAPMAN.

said article between said supporting member and 

